Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Tangy, peppery, and loaded with a punch of flavor, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce will take anything you slather it on to a whole new level! With a beautiful golden color from mustard and a slight sweetness from brown sugar and honey, this sauce takes only 10 minutes to make.

In these parts, we take our BBQ seriously. For us, BBQ (chopped or sliced pulled pork) is a thing, not something you do. Having said that, we are also passionate about what kind of sauce we use when dressing up a big pile of tender, juicy “Q.”

In North Carolina, we are known for our spicy, hot vinegar sauce. I make my own Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce, and it’s become a staple in my kitchen. Now, I’m giving my South Carolina friends the due they deserve with my homemade recipe for their famous Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce.

History Of Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce

Discover the mouthwatering Carolina Gold BBQ sauce—a South Carolina tradition rooted in German heritage. This golden sauce blends mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar for a tangy and flavorful experience. It’s perfect for marinating pork, dipping, or enhancing your favorite dishes.

What Makes This Sauce So Special?

It is tangy, with a zippy edge that makes it totally irresistible.
Made with only a handful of ingredients, 9 simple pantry ingredients to be exact.
It can be used as a BBQ sauce, dipping sauce, or pork tenderloin marinade.
You can serve it with pork, chicken, fish, and is a must for any cookout!

Ingredients For This Recipe

Yellow Mustard – any brand that you like
Honey
Brown Sugar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Black Pepper – freshly cracked is best.
Worcestershire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Salt
Cayenne Pepper – if you want a little more heat.

How To Make This Sauce

All that’s needed to make Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce is one pot and about 10 minutes of time. Add all the ingredients to the pot and whisk them together. Bring the sauce up to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the sauce cool, and you are ready to serve.

More Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes

Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Alabama BBQ White Sauce
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce

How To Store Homemade BBQ Sauce

Allow the BBQ Sauce to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to amason jaror an air-tight container. Store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

The ways to use this sauce are actually limitless. Even the picky eater in my family loves using Carolina Gold as a dip for chips and pretzels. As an added bonus to its incredible flavor, you can add more spice with additional black and cayenne pepper for some added heat.

Tips and Tricks For Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Marinating pork: Carolina Gold BBQ sauce is an excellent marinade for pork, especially pork tenderloin. Allow the flavors to infuse the meat by marinating it in the sauce for a few hours or overnight. This will result in a tender, flavorful pork dish.
Enhance your dipping experience: Carolina Gold BBQ sauce can double as a delightful dipping sauce. Its tangy and sweet profile makes it an ideal accompaniment for various foods, including pulled pork, grilled bell peppers, or other savory snacks.
Balance the flavors: To achieve the signature taste of Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, strike a balance between the tanginess of Dijon mustard, the sweetness of brown sugar, the savory notes of Worcestershire sauce, and the kick of red pepper flakes. Adjust the quantities to suit your personal preference.

What To Serve With Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce

Smoked Pulled Pork with BBQ Red Slaw
Grilled Sausages With Peppers And Onions
Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Easy London Broil

Love a Yummy Sauce? Check Out These Recipes:

Honey Mustard Sauce
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce
Jezebel Sauce

5 from 8 votes